Understanding

Historic Buildings
A Guide to Good Recording Practice
Summary

This Historic England guidance sets out the process of investigating and recording
historic buildings for the purposes of historical understanding. It aims to assist
professional practitioners and curators, managers of heritage assets, academics,
students and volunteer recorders in compiling or commissioning records that are
accurate and suited to the purposes for which they are intended.

For those undertaking recording themselves it provides practical advice on surveying,

photography and report writing. It also assists those managing the built environment
to set appropriate specifications for the recording of historic buildings by others.

This guidance note has been prepared by Rebecca Lane, based on the earlier text of
Adam Menuge. It supercedes the English Heritage guidance published in February
2006, which itself replaced the RCHME guidelines Recording Historic Buildings: A
Descriptive Specification (3 editions: 1990, 1991 and 1996). This edition published by
Historic England May 2016. All images Historic England unless otherwise stated.

HistoricEngland.org.uk/advice/

Front cover
Studying building fabric at Oddas Chapel, Deerhurst,
Gloucestershire.
Contents

1 Why record? ................................1 5.4

Level 4 .........................................................27

5.5 Photographic survey .................................27

5.6 Other levels ................................................27

2 Prior to recording ........................3 5.7 Selecting the level and form

of a record as part of the

2.1 Previous records ..........................................3

planning process .......................................27

2.2 Recording defined by a brief.......................3

2.3 The scope of the record ..............................5

6
Preserving the record ................30

3 When to record ............................6 6.1

Materials and

identifying information .............................30

3.1 The timing of recording ...............................6 6.2

Dissemination and publication ................33

3.2 Recording during works on 6.3

Signposting ................................................34

a building .....................................................9

3.3 Buildings and

archaeological excavation ..........................9 7

Architectural

Drawing Conventions .................. 35

4 Creating a record.......................10 7.1

Objectives...................................................35

7.2 CAD layering conventions .........................35

4.1 Documentary research ..............................10 7.3

Drawing conventions .................................37

4.2 Building investigation ...............................11 7.4

Sample drawings .......................................40

4.3 Survey and drawings.................................13

4.4 Photography...............................................17

4.5 The written account...................................21 8

Bibliography..............................58

5 Recording levels: a description ..25 9

Where to Get Advice...................59

5.1 Level 1 .........................................................25 9.1

Contact addresses .....................................59

5.2 Level 2 .........................................................26 9.2

Contact Historic England ..........................60

5.3 Level 3.........................................................26

1 Why Record?
1.1 Records of historic buildings are
generally compiled for one or more of the
following reasons:
to inform the day-to-day and long-term
management and use of buildings
to promote the understanding and
appreciation of historic buildings
to secure an understanding of a
building and its significance to inform
the preparation of a scheme of
conservation, repair or alteration
to inform decisions relating to the
approval or implementation of a scheme
of development as part of the planning
or conservation process
to document buildings, or parts of
buildings, which will be lost as a result
of demolition, alteration or neglect
to assess the significance of groups of
buildings, settlements and landscapes,
and provide a basis for strategic
heritage management
to provide underpinning data for
thematic, topographic or period-specific
works of synthesis by recording a sample
of surviving structures
to inform academic research across a
range of disciplines
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1.2 It is important that those creating a record
should be mindful at all times of:
the health and safety implications of
working in historic buildings
the rights and sensitivities of owners
and occupants
1.3 This document is not intended to be
definitive. Circumstances will often arise
when those involved with the care, repair
or understanding of an historic building
require records with content which may
differ from the levels described. It is
expected, however, that the forms of record
outlined here will fulfil the requirements of
those for whom historical understanding is
the principal objective.
1.4 The information in this document is
intended for use by anyone recording
buildings, both professionals and those who
dedicate their spare time to investigating
or researching buildings. While it is hoped
that volunteer recorders will find the whole
document of interest, some sections focus
more on the planning-led circumstances
of recording. Volunteer recorders may
therefore wish to concentrate on sections
4 and 5, and the conventions provided in
section 7, which include practical advice for
those looking to record a building.
1
Figure 1: Apethorpe, Northamptonshire.
Understanding historic buildings can involve
unravelling highly complex phased fabric. Here various
phases of construction are revealed during stripping
back of later wall coverings.

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2 Prior to Recording

2.1 Previous records 2.2 Recording defined by a brief

2.1.1 The compilation of any building record
requires a significant commitment of
time. No recording should be undertaken,
therefore, without first establishing whether
relevant information already exists and
assessing its merits. An appropriate form
and level of recording will build upon
existing knowledge.
2.2.1 Recording will often take place as a
requirement of the planning process. In
these cases the required form and level of
recording can be set out in a brief, produced
by the local planning authority (LPA) or
other regulatory body. In response to a brief,
or as an alternative, a written scheme of
investigation (WSI) can be prepared by an

Ground-floor plan of
64-66 Bridge Street
A
W
E
S T
S T
R

Shop
E
E T

A1

B R I D G E S T R E E T

5 0 30 ft

1 0 10 m
Figure 2 (above and right): 64-66 Bridge Street,
Berwick on Tweed, Northumberland. 64-66 Bridge Street/57 West Street and 51 West Street
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Nor thumberland

Individual building records can highlight the detail of NGR: NT 99770 52815 Scale: 1:200

a sites development. See RRS 7-2015. Drawn by Allan T Adams BA FSA FSAI

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 external party and agreed by the LPA.
Such documents should be based on the
best information available at the time.
The brief or WSI will:
indicate what is currently known about
the building
describe the circumstances (typically
proposals for change) which make
recording desirable
identify the main areas in which
understanding or information are
lacking (referring particularly to parts of
the building which may be affected by
the proposals) and
Outside the planning system recording
may be governed by a similar brief from a
commissioning or funding body, by a project
design, or by a looser set of research aims
and objectives.
2.2.2 Briefs and project designs are important
ways of focusing recording activity on needs
and priorities, but they should also be
flexible enough to allow for modification
as understanding of a subject develops or
circumstances change. In all cases, and
in accordance with the National Planning
Policy Framework (NPPF), the records
produced should be proportionate to the
significance of a building and proportionate
to the extent of any works proposed.

specify the level of recording needed

Yarm Road
184

2
138

1-3
5
10
Bright Street

51

1
Pease Street 74

2
29

Cobden Stre
et
47

191
44

t
Eastbourne Stree 156
34

113
2

128

86
Milton Street

Cobden Court

Eastbourne
Park

30
115
92

4
Key Harris Street 39
houses built before 1854
plot layout in 1854 1A
62

modern plot boundaries

post-war densification or redevelopment
79

0 20 100
metres

Figure 3: The Freeholders Home Estate, Darlington,

County Durham.
Different approaches are required to deal with large
numbers of buildings. The Freeholders Home Estate
was the subject of an Historic Area Assessment.
See RRS 44-2012.

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2.3 The scope of the record
2.3.1 Most records will incorporate some form of
written description and analysis, drawing
on an investigation of the buildings
fabric, research in documentary sources,
or both. They will also typically include a
visual record made by photography and/or
drawing. However, the time devoted to each
activity, and consequently the content of
the record, will vary considerably according
to the nature of the building and the
circumstances of the recording project.
2.3.2 For some years, four main levels of record,
described more fully below (see section 5),
have been widely adopted. They range
from Level 1, comprising photographs
and brief notes, to Level 4, containing a
full historical and architectural analysis,
supported by a comprehensive drawn
and photographic record.
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2.3.3 The benefits of these levels may be
summarised as follows:
they give guidance about how to
compile records
they define a common standard,
allowing records which may vary
considerably in detail and content to be
categorised, grouped and compared in
broad terms
they provide guidance to those
commissioning, procuring or specifying
work by others with a checklist of what
may be included in the record of a
building, and in what circumstances
they enable users of the completed
record to know the intensity of recording
employed and to understand the survey
methods upon which conclusions have
been based
5
3 When to Record
3.1 The timing of recording
3.1.1 Recording undertaken as part of general
research, for example by volunteer
recorders, tends not to be time critical and
can be undertaken at the convenience of
the recorders and/or building owners and
potentially over a significant length of
time. In such cases, where there is little or
no prospect of additional building fabric
information becoming available as part
Figure 4: Milton Manor, Somerset.
Empty interiors allow unimpeded views of architectural
detail but provide little social context. Photographed
for the Mendip Hills project (Jamieson 2015
The Historic Landscape of the Mendip Hills).
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of alterations or demolition, the timing of
recording is not crucial. However some of
the factors identified below may still be
worth consideration.
3.1.2 In the planning and conservation processes
an early record is invaluable even though
it may subsequently require expansion.
Assessment or recording prior to the
formulation of plans for alteration can guide
the process of change by drawing attention
6
Figure 5: 5 Pennyfeather Lane, Harmer Green,
Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
Photography prior to the dispersal of contents
adds important context. Photographed for the
post-war listed buildings project, following the death
of architect and owner David Medd (Harwood and
Davies 2015 Englands Post-War Listed Buildings).
to the significance of the building as a
whole, or of specific features or phases of
development more sensitive to damage or
loss. By identifying the survival of important
features, recording or assessment can help
to steer proposals away from potentially
damaging interventions, or highlight the
need for further recording as building work
progresses. Once a scheme of changes has
been agreed then recording that precedes
changes to a buildings fabric can document
features that are to be removed or altered.
3.1.3 Where possible, the timing of a record
should also take other factors into
consideration. Buildings typically yield more
information in certain situations than in
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others, though the conditions best suited to
one form of recording may not be the same
as those best adapted to another. An empty
building may make fabric analysis easier,
whereas one with contents intact may result
in a richer photographic record. Similarly,
scaffolding may permit access to areas
normally inaccessible, but is a hindrance
to some survey techniques and general
photography. In such circumstances
compiling the optimum record may
require a number of visits; where time and
resources are limited the best balance of
advantages must be sought.
7
Figure 6: The bell-foundry at John Taylor & Co
of Loughborough.
Industrial buildings recorded with plant still intact
adds particularly to their understanding. Photographed
in 2012 when the site was under threat of closure.
3.1.4 Certain building types will benefit from
different approaches. Where industrial
buildings house processes which are of
historic interest they are best recorded
when plant is still intact and preferably
when employees are present and processes
are still active, safety considerations
permitting. The documenting of industrial
processes (sometimes termed process
recording) can form a valuable component
of the record.
3.1.5 In many historic buildings, alterations
connected with later uses obscure much of
the earlier fabric. Removal of later features
should be sanctioned only following full
assessment of their significance, and with
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a clear justification for the loss of fabric
which may reflect an important phase
of the buildings history. Where deemed
appropriate, a record of the fabric to be
removed should also be made.
Assessing significance
3.1.6 Assessments of significance are value-based
judgements, measured against criteria set
out in the NPPF or in Historic Englands
Conservation Principles. Recording at
the levels described below will often
underpin an assessment of significance,
and reports may include a statement of
significance as part of the conclusion of
the record. However, the value-based
judgements of a statement of significance
8
 should be clearly distinguished from the
record of the building which should seek
to be as objective as possible. In other
cases, statements of significance may be
prepared to help inform proposed work on
a building, and help determine the level
of recording required. Such statements
may include some elements of a building
record, but again a clear distinction must
be drawn (in the language of the report,
or in its structure) between value-based
judgements and more objective evidence.
In both cases it should be emphasised that
an assessment of significance may need to
be revised as new evidence emerges, either
from the building itself (as a result of any
additional recording or observation during
works) or as a result of developments in the
understanding of a buildings wider context
(material, technological, cultural, etc).
3.2 Recording during works on
a building
3.2.1 In certain circumstances the removal of
fabric may need to be monitored to ensure
that significant features are not damaged
or lost. It is important that any programme
of recording as part of redevelopment or
alteration to a building anticipates the
scale of change to the building and makes
provision for appropriate supervision of
works in areas that have been identified as
significant or seem likely to yield further
information. Good communication with
contractors working on the building can be
key to ensuring that works are undertaken
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efficiently and with due regard for
significant areas of fabric. Recording of any
features uncovered should be consistent
with any recording undertaken prior to work
commencing and used to update, and if
necessary reinterpret, earlier findings.
3.2.2 Records inevitably reflect the state of
knowledge prevailing at the time they are
made, and the completion of even
a detailed record does not preclude
re-examination of the building, or its
record, at a later date. New evidence may
come to light and may need recording.
Both new evidence and advances in
understanding may prompt a reappraisal
of existing interpretations.
3.3 Buildings and
archaeological excavation
3.3.1 In certain circumstances it may be
necessary to carry out archaeological
excavation within the floors of a building.
This must be done in accordance with
established excavation practice and by
suitably accredited or otherwise qualified
individuals. While this may be undertaken
as a separate investigative scheme from any
building recording the full integration of the
above- and below-ground records created
during such works is strongly recommended
to ensure that understanding of the building
is as full as possible. The same may apply
to excavations conducted elsewhere on the
buildings plot or in its historic setting.
4 Creating a Record

Creating a record of an historic building involves a range of activities. These are often
overlapping and mutually informing. Some practitioners will aim to be proficient in all
of these activities, but often collaboration will be required and it is important that the
insights generated by different specialists are shared promptly and are fully integrated
in the final record. In many circumstances choices will need to be made: is a feature
best captured by drawing, photography or written description, or by a combination of
the three? Accuracy and intelligibility should be the guiding principles, together with
a view of the purpose of the record. Early consultation with any archive that might
receive material from the project may also help to determine the format of parts
of the record.

4.1 Documentary research the archives of county and

local societies

4.1.1 Documentary research should form a

component of every recording project. local Buildings Records

Steps should always be taken to establish (where they exist)

whether there is an existing record of a

building, and if so, whether it is sufficiently
detailed, comprehensive and accurate.
This may make further recording
unnecessary or influence the form it
takes. The likeliest repositories for historic
building records include:
the Historic England Archive
(where records created and collected
by Historic England, the former English
Heritage and RCHME are deposited)
In addition research on many buildings has
been published in local journals and other
literature. All relevant, readily available
material, including historic Ordnance
Survey maps, should normally be reviewed
before embarking on recording. While
there are advantages in investigating a
building without recourse to previous
interpretations, it is equally true, especially
where time is limited, that preliminary
research can expedite investigation.

local Historic Environment Records 4.1.2 The extent to which more detailed research
(formerly known as Sites & is necessary or desirable will depend on the
Monuments Records (SMRs)) level of record, and the merits of available
documentary sources. The range, scope
Record Offices and survival of these sources will vary
considerably. Nearly all buildings have left
Local Studies Libraries some documentary or cartographic trace.

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 However, many record types, such as Hearth
Tax records, can be matched to individual
structures only if the historic ownership of
the building is known, while others can be
made to illuminate the history of individual
buildings only after lengthy analysis. These
may be used with greater efficiency in the
study of groups of buildings.
4.1.3 In many circumstances exhaustive research
will not be possible or cost-effective, and
attention is likely to focus on those sources
which lend themselves to understanding
the design and development of buildings.
These include:
historic maps, plans and views
building accounts
title deeds
inventories
sale particulars
census records
trade directories
building control plans (for 19th and
20th century buildings; typically found
in local archives or the offices of Local
Planning Authorities)
literary references (for example,
in topographical literature)
Sources require critical evaluation.
Whichever documents are selected for
consultation, it is important to be aware of
their original purpose and limitations. It is
useful to keep a record of what has been
consulted and any discounted sources,
to be included in any written report.
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4.2 Building investigation
4.2.1 The field investigation of a building will
normally follow preliminary documentary
research. At its simplest, investigation
involves identifying address details
and obtaining a grid reference. In most
cases it will involve direct observation of
the building in order to ascertain what
information it provides about its origins,
form, function, date and development. For
the lowest level of record, investigation
may be limited to external observation. For
more detailed levels of recording internal
inspection will be required, the length and
intensity depending on the purpose of the
record, the complexity of the building and
the resources available. An initial aim of
this inspection will be the clarification of
what an appropriate record needs to show,
if this is not already apparent from
external observation.
4.2.2 Detailed investigation entails a thorough
examination of the buildings external
and internal fabric, paying particular
attention to:
evidence of phasing (for example,
masonry joints)
architectural styles
plan elements
decorative schemes
fixtures and fittings or other details
which help to date the building or its
various stages of evolution
Its purpose is not only to break the
building down into a series of phases of
development, but to analyse how, at various
stages, the building was used and how
contemporaries would have understood its
arrangement and decoration. Investigation,
which will normally be accompanied
by structured note-taking and often by
 photography, will also help to identify
whether a drawn record is appropriate, and
if so, which drawings will make the most
useful contribution to a record. Wherever
possible, all parts of the exterior and
interior should be examined, and a note
should always be made of any areas that
are inaccessible.
Systematic observation of a building
4.2.3 Strict rules for the manner in which a
building is investigated cannot be laid
down. The working practices of individuals
vary, and constraints of time and access
will frequently impose variations on ideal
Figure 7: Members of the Chipping Norton Building
Record team surveying Chipping Norton Guildhall.
Systematic investigation of a building is crucial to
understanding. It requires good observational and
analytical skills, with an adequate record made of
points observed.
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practice. Where possible it is preferable
to commence with a quick overview,
identifying functions and establishing
the main phases, their physical limits
and their defining characteristics. The
advantage of this method is that it
encourages consideration of the building as
a functioning whole, not as an assemblage
of parts. This prompts questions and
directs attention to key evidence, allowing
interpretations to be tested. It is important
to bear in mind that noting architectural
evidence is not an end in itself and should
be used to reflect upon the form and use
of a building over time. This will assist
in setting the building appropriately in
its regional or national context and/or
establishing the relative significance of
different phases of a buildings evolution.
The room-by-room noting of individual
features, regardless of date, is not a
substitute for this analysis, though it is a
valuable stage in the recording process. If
pursued in isolation it can result in much of
the necessary analysis and interpretation
being deferred until later, by which time
access to the building to seek further
information may no longer be available.
Scientific dating or analysis
4.2.4 In certain situations separate specialist
investigations may be desirable. These
include dendrochronology (tree-ring
dating) and analyses of decorative
schemes (either art-historical or scientific
in focus) or particular building materials.
The full potential of such investigations is
unlikely to be realised unless they are both
informed by, and integrated with, broader
investigation and research.
Invasive or destructive techniques
4.2.5 In historic building investigation, in
common with other areas of building
conservation and archaeology, there is a
presumption in favour of non-destructive
techniques, minimising the erosion of
irreplaceable historic fabric. In most
circumstances the investigation of historic
12
 buildings is a non-destructive process
based on careful and informed observation
and analysis. Where destructive techniques
offer a means of extending understanding,
through sampling materials or revealing
hidden fabric, it is vital to consider the
loss which will result. Even techniques
which entail only minimal loss, such as
dendrochronological sampling or the lifting
of floorboards to examine floor structures,
can cause damage if carried out carelessly.
More extensive physical investigations,
such as the removal of areas of plaster,
or the opening up of blocked features
or inaccessible voids, are by definition
destructive, even if the materials in question
are later reinstated. In listed buildings such
operations require specific consent. They
should never be justified purely on the
grounds of finding out more.
Fabric loss through alteration
4.2.6 Keeping historic buildings in continued use
will entail repairs and alterations, and these
will inevitably result in some loss of fabric.
Where a qualified assessment determines
that significant fabric cannot, by virtue of
its condition, be saved or where its removal
is formally approved as part of a scheme
of alterations, it is appropriate to seize the
opportunity for recording and enhanced
understanding. Such observations should be
the subject of a formal record. Materials that
will be lost irrevocably may extend beyond
building materials to objects accidentally or
ritually deposited in a building. These may,
in themselves, merit analysis, recording
and preservation.
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4.3 Survey and drawings
4.3.1 Drawings are an efficient way of conveying
the evidence on which an interpretation
is based, and a powerful analytical tool
in their own right. Drawings derived from
measured survey have the additional
virtue of allowing interpretations based
on metric analysis (for example, of bay
lengths, wall thicknesses and alignments).
They can be, however, time-consuming or
expensive to produce, and care is therefore
needed in determining whether drawings
are required, and if so, which drawings will
best address the nature of the building
and the needs of the recording project. In
certain circumstances, for example where
severe time-constraints apply, it may be
appropriate to produce annotated sketch
drawings. Indeed it may not be necessary
to produce any drawings at all of simple
or common building types, for which a
photograph, or the incorporation of key
dimensions in the written account, may
suffice. Even with such buildings, however,
drawings may on occasion be useful for
illustrating representative examples or
for purposes of comparison with other
buildings. The act of measuring up for
drawings imposes a discipline, requiring
systematic observation of all parts of a
structure, and it can result in additional
information coming to light.
Existing surveys
4.3.2 Caution must be exercised in using drawings
created for other purposes, particularly for
estate agents particulars etc, as these often
rationalise plans and remove irregularities
which may be key to understanding a
building. Detailed plans made by surveyors
for purposes of design or alteration may
form a satisfactory basis for drawings which
aim to show the evolution of a building, but
their accuracy will need to be confirmed and
they will sometimes need to be adapted to
show a greater range of historical evidence.
13
 Types of drawing
4.3.3 A building record may contain one or
more of the following drawing types. This
list should be referred to when deciding
on a record level as outlined in section 5.
Either
1 Sketched plan, section, elevation or
detail drawings (when no more thorough
drawn record is made). Sketches may be
roughly dimensioned.
Or
2 Measured plans (to scale or fully
dimensioned) as existing. These may extend
to all floors, or they may be restricted to
one or a selection. The latter option may be
appropriate, for example, in a town-centre
building where an upper floor has been little
altered. Buildings with a repetitive structure
may also be planned on one floor, but a note
or a sketch plan should be made to indicate
the arrangement of other floors. Plans should
show the form and location of any structural
features of historic significance, such as
blocked doorways, windows and fireplaces,
masonry joints, ceiling beams and other
changes in floor and ceiling levels, and any
evidence for fixtures of significance.
Further drawing types as required, from:
3 Measured drawings recording the form or
location of other significant structural detail
(for example timber or metal framing).
4 Measured cross-sections or long-sections
to illustrate the vertical relationships within
a building (for example floor and ceiling
heights, the form of roof trusses).
5 Measured drawings to show the form of
any architectural decoration (for example
the moulding profiles of door surrounds,
beams, mullions and cornices) or small-
scale functional detail not easily captured
by photography. A measured detail drawing
is particularly valuable when the feature in
question is an aid to dating.
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6 Measured elevations, where these are
necessary to an understanding of the
buildings design, development or function.
7 A site plan relating the building to other
structures and to any related topographical
and landscape features.
8 A plan or plans identifying the location and
direction of accompanying photographs.
9 Copies of earlier drawings throwing light on
the buildings history.
10 Three-dimensional projections when these
are of value in understanding the building.
If these are to be considered components
of the record they must always be
accompanied by measured plans, sections
and elevational details.
11 Reconstruction drawings and phased
drawings, when these are of value. In phased
drawings successive phases of a buildings
development may be shown by graded tone
(dark to light, with the darker being the
earlier) or by colour, by sequential diagrams
or by annotation. Whenever phased drawings
are included in a record, they must be
accompanied by the unmarked drawings on
which they are based.
12 Diagrams interpreting the movement
of materials (process flow) or people
(circulation), or the segregation of people
or activities (for example permeability
diagrams), where these are warranted
by the complexity of the subject. As with
10 and 11, the evidence supporting the
interpretations must be provided.
4.3.4 Plans and sections are particularly valuable
in that they show, at a glance, a range
of features which cannot be shown in
a photograph. They can also highlight
structural and spatial relationships and
decorative hierarchies. Plans conventionally
adopt a cut-line at a height which provides
the maximum information (including
doorways, windows, fireplaces). Detail
above and below the cutting plane is also
included, and is distinguished by line
styles and weights (see section 7). Section
lines are similarly chosen to convey the
maximum information, and for this reason
may be joggled (show features that appear
on more than one plane). Sections are
especially useful for showing the structural
and decorative form of timber or metal
Figure 8: Total Station Theodolite survey in Ely,
Cambridgeshire.
Digital survey techniques, such as laser scanning or
TST survey, as here, can assist with large or complex
buildings but still rely on skilled observation to
interpret findings. Recording for Early Fabric in Historic
Towns: Ely project (RRS 2-2016 forthcoming).
< < Contents
frames, including roof construction, and
wherever vertical relationships have been
obscured (for example, where an upper floor
has been inserted in a medieval open hall).
Roof trusses and any fixed features such as
machinery parallel to the cutting plane are
shown in elevation.
Survey techniques
4.3.5 Surveys can be made by direct
measurement using tapes and rods
sometimes supported by reflectorless Total
Station Theodolite (TST) equipment. In
recent years the use of laser scanning has
become a standard technique for capturing
survey information. More sophisticated
survey techniques can be particularly
valuable on larger and more complex
15
 sites, where they may save time as well
as improving accuracy. Measured surveys
may be augmented by other techniques
designed to record detail, such as rectified
photography, photogrammetric drawings,
and orthophotography. The advantages and
disadvantages of each of these methods,
including their relative costs, should be
understood before they are employed in the
course of recording. The technical precision
of most modern surveying instruments
is formidable, but their accuracy in use
depends on the skill and judgement of the
operator and those processing the data. All
survey methods rely on human selection of
suitable points for measurement, in the field
and in working up survey data into finished
drawings consequently a survey is only as
good as the critical observation on which it
is based.
4.3.6 More information on hand survey using
tapes and rods can be obtained from
Drawing for Understanding Historic Buildings
(Historic England forthcoming). For a
comparison of available technical survey
techniques see Measured and Drawn
(English Heritage 2010) and for further
guidance on laser scanning see 3D Laser
Scanning for Heritage (English Heritage
2011). For more guidance on how to
commission and specify such surveys see
Metric Survey Specifications for Cultural
Heritage (Historic England 2015).
Producing drawings
4.3.7 Where dimensioned site-sketches are
produced for drawing up off-site they form
part of the primary record and should be
submitted with the site archive; as such they
should be made in a durable medium and
should remain unaltered (see section 6).
Any subsequent amendments should
be clearly distinguished from the
original record.
4.3.8 Drawings derived from a measured survey
are produced by hand, using pen and
ink, or in a Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
medium. For hand drawings the scale must
< < Contents 16
be appropriate to the building, typically
1:100 or 1:50 for plans, and 1:50 or 1:20 for
sections. A complex structure or one with
much fine detail may occasionally merit
drawing at a suitable larger scale, but in
most cases enlarged details will suffice.
Conversely, scales smaller than 1:100 may
be appropriate for plans of very large
buildings or complexes. In either case it
is preferable that the finished drawing is
of a size which can be easily photocopied
or scanned. Where an individual building
record forms part of a wider project the
same scales should, so far as possible, be
adhered to throughout, to allow for easy
comparison. The finished drawing should
be legible when reduced for publication, the
degree of reduction often being dependent
on the amount of detail required.
4.3.9 CAD drawings are produced in a virtual 1:1
environment and can be plotted at any
required scale. They must nevertheless be
produced with regard to the intended scale
of the final plots, and this in turn must
reflect the level of detail and precision of
the original site measurements. Level or
layer conventions allow different versions
of the same drawing to be plotted from the
same computer file, so that, for example,
fine detail can be omitted from small-
scale plots, where it would be illegible.
Levels or layers should also be allotted to
ensure appropriate line weights at the scale
at which plots will be required. Historic
England observes a layering protocol in
the production of CAD drawings to ensure
consistency which is included in this
guidance to provide an example of such a
system (see section 7.2).
4.3.10 It is recommended that drawings
aiming to convey historical understanding
or to support historical interpretation
adopt the graphic conventions set out
in section 7 of this document. These
supplement architectural drawing
conventions with a range of additional
symbols dealing with features of relevance
to historical interpretation.
Drawing or photography?
4.3.11 Elevational information can often be
obtained by photography at a fraction of
the cost of a drawn record. However
elevational drawings (including full
elevational sections) may be justified
where the elevation incorporates
important information that cannot be
captured in a single photograph, or where
the fabric evidence is so complex as to
render features difficult to interpret in a
photograph. Measured drawings are also
necessary where subsequent uses require
precise measurements.

4.4 Photography

Like drawings, photographs amplify and

illuminate a record. In many cases they are a
more efficient way of capturing data than either
drawing or written description, but they also
supplement drawn or written records. This section
provides general guidance on minimum standards
for digital and film-based formats. Further Figure 9 : 20 Bridge Street, Hereford.
guidance on all of the points below is provided Constrained sites can make it difficult to make an
adequate photographic record. Photographed for the
in Digital Image Capture and File Storage
Houses of Hereford project (Baker et al forthcoming
(Historic England 2015). Houses of Hereford 1200-1700).

Digital images
4.4.1 Digital cameras are now in widespread
use for photography in building recording.
Where a permanent archived record is
being created however, concerns remain
over the long-term access to digital images
(for more information see section 6). The
recommended first step when creating
a photographic record of a building is
therefore to contact the archive where the
record will be deposited and confirm their
policy. As a supplement to any archive
guidelines the following section provides
a minimum standard for digital image
capture. Minimum standards for film
photography are also provided below, for
anyone seeking to deposit a record with
an archive that still requires this.
Digital image formats
4.4.2 Digital capture can deliver good-quality
images provided that a high-resolution
camera is used that is, one with sensors
exceeding 10 Mega Pixels. Most cameras
will shoot in JPEG format with DSLRs
also typically allowing the production of
RAW files. RAW files can be converted into
uncompressed file formats such as TIFFs.
However the processing of such formats
requires specialist software which may be
unavailable to some recorders. Care should
be taken to ensure that any images taken
to form part of a permanent record are
shot at the highest resolution available
on the camera.

< < Contents 17

4.4.3 TIFF and JPEG files are easily transferable
and are readable on most computers.
Uncompressed TIFF files are large,
while JPEG files are usually compressed
and therefore much smaller. However,
compression results in the loss of some
information, and repeated saving of JPEG
files can lead to further degradation.
Uncompressed file types such as TIFF are
preferred by most archives that accept
digital data. Images for archiving should
be saved using the Adobe RGB 1998 colour
space. JPEGs may also be acceptable, where
no alternative is available. Unprocessed
RAW (camera-specific) file types can be
archived where accepted, but should always
be accompanied by images converted into
the more widely readable TIFF format as
special software is needed to open RAW
file formats and they are subject to more
rapid obsolescence. The use of in-camera
Figure 10: Stable block, Wimborne St Giles, Dorset.
Where the view of an elevation is unimpeded an
elevational photograph, taken in good light, may make
a drawing unnecessary. Photographed for research on
the building to inform the Heritage at Risk programme.
See RRS 1-2016.
< < Contents
processing software is not recommended,
as changes to the image data at this stage
cannot be reversed. For information on the
metadata that should accompany digital
images when submitted to an archive see
section 6.
Prints from digital images
4.4.4 When creating prints from digital files,
clarity and longevity can be obtained
through the use of photographic printing
paper, preferably a silver halide paper
such as Fujicolor Crystal Archive. More
commonly available outputs via inkjet and
laser printers have a limited life, sometimes
only months if stored incorrectly. Many
photographic laboratories will produce
suitable prints at minimal cost. When
preparing files for printing, a resolution
of 300dpi at the required output size
is appropriate.
18
Film
4.4.5. Photographic film may still be stipulated
by some archives. Silver-based black-and
white film, when properly processed and
suitably stored, remains an extremely stable
archiving format. Chromogenic black-and
white film is subject to dye-based (not
silver-based) processing, and therefore
has an inferior archival performance.
The archival performance of colour
photography is inferior for the same reason,
though it can be extended by careful
handling and storage. Even where black
and-white images are specified for archival
reasons, supplementary digital colour
photography may be required to record
buildings adequately.
4.4.6 35mm (135-format) film is adequate for
many purposes. There will be occasions,
however, when a higher-quality image is
specified. The quality of images captured on
the larger film formats (for example, 120 roll
film or 5 x 4in sheet film) will greatly exceed
those captured on 35mm film, and will allow
for enlargements of specific areas whilst
retaining image quality.
The selection of images
4.4.7 Photography is generally the most efficient
way of presenting the appearance of a
building, and can also be used to record
much of the detailed evidence on which an
analysis of historic development is based. It
is also a powerful analytical tool in its own
right, highlighting the relationships between
elements of a building and sometimes
bringing to light evidence which is barely
registered by the naked eye.
< < Contents 19
Types of photograph
4.4.8 Site photography may include one or
more of the following. This list should
be referred to when deciding on a
record level as outlined in Section 5.
1 A general view or views of the building (in
its wider setting or landscape if 2 (below)
is also to be adopted).
2 The buildings external appearance.
Typically a series of oblique views will
show all external elevations of the
building, and give an overall impression
of its size and shape. Where individual
elevations include complex historical
information it may also be appropriate to
take views at right-angles to the plane of
the elevation.
3 Further views may be desirable to reflect
the original design intentions of the
builder or architect, where these are
known from documentary sources or can
be inferred from the building or its setting.
4 The overall appearance of the principal
rooms and circulation areas. The
approach will be similar to that
outlined in 2.
5 Any external or internal detail, structural
or decorative, which is relevant to the
buildings design, development and use,
with scale where appropriate.
6 Any machinery or other plant, or evidence
for its former existence.
7 Any dates or other inscriptions; any
signage, makers plates or graffiti which
contribute to an understanding of the
building. A transcription should be made
wherever characters are difficult
to interpret.

8 Any building contents which have a
significant bearing on the buildings
history (for example, a cheese press,
a malt shovel).
9 Copies of maps, drawings, views and
photographs, present in the building and
illustrating its development or that of its
site. The owners written consent may be
required where copies are to be deposited
in an archive.
4.4.9 In record photography the need
to capture information about the building
should be paramount, but pictorial
qualities, which often give life and meaning
to architectural forms, should not be
neglected. Photographs which aim to
convey the atmosphere of a building can
be evocative, but should form a supplement
to a series of well-lit images. An analytical,
or systematic, approach to photography can
also be valuable, helping to explain features
by relating them to each other rather than
photographing them in isolation.
Figure 11
A DSLR camera placed on a tripod and fitted with
a shift lens helps minimise distortions in
elevational photography.
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Photographic techniques and equipment
4.4.10 All photographs forming part of a record
should be in focus, with an appropriate use
of depth of field; they should be adequately
exposed in good natural light, or where
necessary well-lit by artificial means. In
order to produce the best possible results
in limited time it is useful to plan site
photography to coincide with variations in
natural light. For example, a north-facing
elevation will often be best photographed
early or late on a bright summers day, when
sunlight falls across it; or on an overcast but
relatively bright day.
4.4.11 The use of a tripod is recommended since
the act of placing the tripod and levelling
the camera imparts a discipline to image
composition as well as ensuring that images
are unaffected by camera shake. When
using a DSLR with a choice of lenses the
least distorted image can be obtained using
standard or slightly telephoto lenses. Wide-
angle lenses can distort the image, and also
tempt the user into nearer viewpoints than
necessary, with the result that information
can be lost. However, the use of wide-
angle lenses is almost always necessary for
interior photography. Care taken in levelling
the camera will help to avoid introducing
distortions. A perspective-control or shift
lens is particularly useful for eliminating
converging verticals; for reliable results it
should always be used with a tripod. When
photographing details it can be helpful
to position the camera straight on to the
subject, and to include a clearly marked and
suitably sized scale parallel to one edge of
the photograph.
4.4.12 The main source of artificial light for
interior photography is electronic flash.
This has the advantage of being similar
in colour balance to daylight, making it
the most practical choice for most colour
image capture. Inclusion in the composition
of standard colour cards, available from
 professional photographic suppliers, can
help to achieve the correct colour balance
during image reproduction.
4.4.13 Camera-mounted electronic flashes
produce harsh shadows and have a
flattening effect. Generally the use of a light
source off-camera will give greater relief in
the subject and a better result. A bounced
light, either from a suitable reflector or
from a white ceiling, will produce a softer,
more even light than a direct light source.
Integral flash, as supplied on many compact
cameras, is often not powerful enough to
meet the range of demands in architectural
work. In such cases the use of natural light,
in conjunction with a tripod, may produce
a better image.
4.4.14 Access to compact digital cameras is
now ubiquitous, but for those undertaking
regular building recording exercises the
higher quality and greater versatility
makes using a DSLR preferable in most
cases. Where a compact is the only option,
choosing a model that allows manual over
ride of automatic features, incorporates
a tripod bush and synchronisation socket
(for off-camera flash), and allows shots to
be taken in JPEG and RAW format, is likely
to result in better images. Knowledge of
how to use a range of specialist equipment,
including remote shutter releases, spirit
levels, lighting, and colour cards, will help a
photographer to achieve improved results.
< < Contents 21
Specialist photography
4.4.15 In some circumstances photography
of a specialist nature may be necessary.
Photographs may be rectified to allow
accurate measurements to be derived, and
are often used as a basis for elevational
drawings. The technique is only really
suitable for a subject which is relatively
flat. Photogrammetric image capture also
allows scaled drawings to be produced and
has the additional virtue of enabling the
three-dimensional modelling of surfaces.
Specialist contractors will be required to
undertake this work. For more information
on these survey techniques see Measured
and Drawn (English Heritage 2010). For
specifying such work see Measured Survey
Specifications for Cultural Heritage
(Historic England 2015).
4.5 The written account
4.5.1 The written account underpins all other
elements of the record by providing
locational information, together with
context, description, analysis and
interpretation. In all but the simplest
records it gathers together insights
derived from the full spectrum of activities
described above, interpreting a wide range
of evidence. The importance of the written
account cannot be overstated, as drawings
and photographs on their own present
evidence but seldom convey understanding.
 Report sections
4.5.2 The main components of the account
will generally be selected, according to
the level of record adopted, from the
following list. This list should be referred
to when deciding on a record level as
outlined in Section 5.
Introductory material
1 The precise location of the building as
an address and in the form of a National
Grid reference.
2 A note of any statutory designation (that is,
listing, scheduling, Register of Historic Parks
and Gardens, conservation area). Information
on statutory designations can be found on
the Historic England website. Non-statutory
designations (local lists) may be added.
3 The date when the record was made, the
name(s) of the recorder(s) and the location
of any archive material.
4 A summary statement (when no more
detailed account is intended) describing
the buildings type or purpose, historically
and at present, its materials and possible
date(s) so far as these are apparent from a
superficial inspection.
5 A contents list; a list of illustrations or figures.
6 A longer summary statement. An alternative
to 4. This account should summarise the
buildings form, function, date and sequence
of development. The names of architects,
builders, patrons and owners should be
given if known. Its purpose is to describe the
building when no fuller record is necessary.
Alternatively it may serve as an introduction
to the more detailed body of a record that
may follow, for users who may need a
summary of the reports findings.
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7 An introduction briefly setting out the
circumstances in which the record was
made, its objectives, methods, scope and
limitations, and any constraints. Where
appropriate the brief for the work or the
project design should be stated or appended.
8 Acknowledgements to all those who have
made a significant contribution to the making
of the record, or who have given permission
for copyright items to be reproduced.
Main report
9 A discussion of the published sources
relating to the building and its setting, an
account of its history as given in published
sources, an analysis of historic map evidence
(map regression) and a critical evaluation
of previous records of the building, where
they exist.
10 An expansion of 9, drawing additionally on a
range of primary documentary sources.
11 An account of the buildings overall form
(structure, materials, layout) and of its
successive phases of development, together
with the evidence supporting this analysis.
12 An account of the buildings past and
present use, and of the uses of its parts,
with the evidence for these interpretations.
An analysis of a circulation pattern or
of a decorative or liturgical scheme. An
account of any fixtures, fittings, plant or
machinery associated with the building,
and their purpose. In an industrial building,
a sequential account of the way in which
materials or processes were handled.
 13 Any evidence for the former existence of
demolished structures or removed plant
associated with the building.
14 A summary of the findings of any specialist
reports (for example dendrochronology or
paint analysis).
21 Relevant information from owners, builders,
architects or others who may be acquainted
with the building, including oral history.
The sources of the information must be
given and it is important that the particular
strengths and weaknesses of different types
of information are weighed.

15 A discussion of the buildings past and 22 An outline of the significance of the

present relationship to its setting: its building. This can seek to identify both the
relationship to local settlement patterns or significance of different features or phases of
other man-made features in the landscape; development in the building relative to each
its part in a larger architectural or functional other, and also set important aspects of the
group of buildings; its visual importance building in a regional or national context.
as a landmark, etc. For more guidance on
investigating and recording landscapes
End material
see Understanding the Archaeology of
23 Full bibliographic and other references, or a
Landscapes (English Heritage 2007; revised
list of the sources consulted (in long reports
edition forthcoming).
it is preferable to include both). Websites
16 An assessment of the potential for further which may prove to be ephemeral should
investigative or documentary work, and be avoided as references wherever possible;
of the potential survival of below-ground where their use is unavoidable the full web
evidence for the history of the building address and the date on which the site was
and its site. consulted should be noted.

17 A discussion of the architectural or historical 24 A glossary of architectural or other terms

context or significance of the building locally, likely to be unfamiliar to readers. If few
regionally or nationally, in terms of its in number, terms may be explained more
origin, purpose, form, construction, design, economically within the text or in footnotes.
materials, status or historical associations.

18 Copies of historic maps, drawings, views

or photographs illustrating the
development of the building or its site
(the permission of owners or copyright
holders may be required).

19 Copies of other records of the building,

including specialist reports (again with any
necessary permissions), or a note of their
existence and location.

20 Any further information from documentary

sources, published or unpublished, bearing
on any of these matters, or bearing on the
circumstances of its building, designer,
craftsmen, ownership, use and occupancy,
with a note on the sources of the information.

< < Contents 23

4.5.3 Whatever the chosen level of record, items
1-3, plus either 4 or 6 (above) should always
appear as identifying or introductory
material. These sections should appear in a
form determined by existing practices and
formats and the circumstances of the record
and the uses for which it is intended.

4.5.4 The manner in which the other items are

selected and combined within the report
will similarly vary according to the nature
of the building and the purpose of the
exercise. Items 11-13 (the detailed historical
analysis of the building) provide the range
of description and analysis required at
Levels 3 and 4 (see section 5), but exactly
how this information is given may vary:
clarity in the record is more important than
a rigid structure. The items listed above are
those most directly relevant to furthering
historical understanding.

4.5.5 A well-structured, well-written report will

convey more information in fewer words
than one which is poorly constructed and
badly expressed. Unnecessary description of
features that are clearly shown in drawings
or photographs should be avoided, and
information that might be included in a
written account may sometimes be more
effectively conveyed by annotated drawings.

< < Contents 24

5 Recording Levels:

a Description

Before selecting the level of record it is important to consider both the nature of
the building and the purpose for which the record is intended. Each recording level
represents a minimum specification to which additional elements may be added
as required. There is usually a correlation between the scope of the written record
and the degree of drawn or photographic detail which is used to support it. When
surveying groups or complexes of buildings it is sometimes appropriate to record
some structures at one level and some at another, depending on their relative interest.
In such circumstances the value of the individual records may be materially enhanced
by an account of the history and evolution of the complex as a whole.

Note: the descriptions below refer to the
numbered lists in sections 4.3.3 (Survey and
drawings), 4.4.8 (Photography) and 4.5.2
(The written account) in the previous section.
For more information on area assessments
see Understanding Place Historic Area
Assessments: Principles and Practice
(English Heritage 2010; revised edition
forthcoming).

5.1 Level 1 5.1.2 Level 1 surveys will generally be of exteriors

5.1.1 Level 1 is essentially a basic visual
record, supplemented by the minimum
of information needed to identify the
buildings location, age and type. This is
the simplest record, and it will not normally
be an end in itself, but will be contributory
to a wider study. Typically it will be
undertaken when the objective is to gather
basic information about a large number
of buildings for statistical sampling, for
only, though the interior of a building
may sometimes be seen in order to make
a superficial inspection and to note
significant features. Only if circumstances
and objectives allow will any drawings be
produced, and these are likely to take the
form of sketches.
5.1.3 A Level 1 record will typically consist of:
drawing sometimes item 1

area assessments to identify buildings for (see numbered list in 4.3.3)

planning purposes, and whenever resources

are limited and much ground has to be photography item 1, sometimes item 2
covered in a short time. It may also serve to (see numbered list in 4.4.8)
identify buildings requiring more detailed
attention at a later date. written account items 1-4

(see numbered list in 4.5.1)

< < Contents 25

5.2 Level 2
5.2.1 This is a descriptive record, made in similar
circumstances to Level 1 but when more
information is needed. It may be made of
a building which is judged not to require
a more detailed record, or it may serve to
gather data for a wider project. Both the
exterior and interior of the building will be
seen, described and photographed. The
examination of the building will produce an
analysis of its development and use and the
record will include the conclusions reached,
but it will not discuss in detail the evidence
on which this analysis is based. A plan and
sometimes other drawings may be made
but the drawn record will normally not be
comprehensive and may be tailored to the
scope of a wider project.
5.2.2 A Level 2 record will typically consist of:
drawn record sometimes item 1 or 2,
sometimes one or more of items 3-7
(see numbered list in 4.3.3)
photography items 1, 2 and 4
sometimes one or more of items 3-12
(see numbered list in 4.4.8)
(see numbered list in 4.3.3)
5.3.2 The information contained in the record
will for the most part have been obtained
through an examination of the building
itself. The documentary sources used are
likely to be those which are most readily
accessible, such as historic Ordnance Survey
maps, trade directories and other published
sources. The record may contain some
discussion the buildings broader stylistic
or historical context and importance. It may
form part of a wider survey of a number
of buildings which will aim at an overall
synthesis, such as a thematic or regional
publication, when the use of additional
source material may be necessary as well
as a broader historical and architectural
discussion of the buildings as a group. A
Level 3 record may also be appropriate
when the fabric of a building is under threat,
but time or resources are insufficient to
allow for detailed documentary research, or
where the scope for such research is limited.
5.3.3 A Level 3 record will typically consist of:
drawing normally item 2;

written record items 1-3 and 6

photography items 1-9

(see numbered list in 4.5.1)

(see numbered list in 4.4.8)

written account items 1-3, 6-9, 11-13, 23;

5.3 Level 3 sometimes items 5, 14-16, 18-20, 22 & 24
(see numbered list in 4.5.1)
5.3.1 Level 3 is an analytical record, and will
comprise an introductory description
followed by a systematic account of the
buildings origins, development and use.
The record will include an account of the
evidence on which the analysis has been
based, allowing the validity of the record to
be re-examined in detail. It will also include
all drawn and photographic records that
may be required to illustrate the buildings
appearance and structure and to support
an historical analysis.

< < Contents 26

5.4 Level 4
5.4.1 Level 4 provides a comprehensive
analytical record and is appropriate for
buildings of special importance. Whereas
the analysis and interpretation employed
at Level 3 will clarify the buildings history
so far as it may be deduced from the
structure itself, the record at Level 4 will
draw on the full range of other sources of
information about the building and discuss
its significance in terms of architectural,
social, regional or economic history. The
range of drawings may also be greater than
at other levels.
5.4.2 A Level 4 record will typically consist of:
drawing item 2; sometimes one or more of
items 3-12 (see numbered list in 4.3.3)
photography items 1-9
The purpose of the record must always
(see numbered list in 4.4.8)
determine its scope.
written account items 1-3, 5-8, 10-23;
sometimes item 24
5.7 Selecting the level and form
(see numbered list in 4.5.1)
of a record as part of the
5.5 Photographic survey
5.5.1 A photographic survey differs from surveys
described above in that it provides a very
full visual record, but without a written
or drawn survey at a comparable level
of detail. A comprehensive photographic
survey may be called for when recording a
building which has complex and important
decoration or historic furnishing but for
which there is no need for detailed analysis.
It may also be appropriate in recording a
building of well-known type which is under
threat but where existing documentation
is in other respects adequate or when for
some other reason drawings and historical
analysis are not required.
< < Contents 27
5.5.2 A photographic survey will consist of:
photography items 1-9
(see numbered list in 4.4.8)
written account items 1-3
(see numbered list in 4.5.1)
5.6 Other levels
5.6.1 While the levels specified in this document
will cover most eventualities when a
building is recorded for historical purposes,
there will be circumstances in which more
detailed records may be desirable. The type
of record required by an architect, builder
or engineer to monitor a major conservation
project or to reconstruct a severely fire-
damaged historic building will be very
different from those described above.
planning process
5.7.1 It is important to retain flexibility in the
application of these levels, and records will
often tend towards one level or another
rather than being capable of precise
classification. Other things being equal,
the intensity of the record may vary with
the degree of threat to historic fabric. Since
destruction is irremediable a more detailed
record may be required when fabric will
be lost than when it will be preserved. The
intensity of the record should nevertheless
remain proportionate to the significance
both of the fabric at risk and of the building
of which it forms part as well as the nature
of the proposed works.
5.7.2 Those defining the content of a record
should be familiar in general terms with the
type, form, materials and historical period
of the building concerned. They should
if possible inspect the building before
arriving at firm conclusions and, if this is not
practicable, should be prepared to modify
the intended form of the record in the light
of subsequent inspection or advice.
5.7.3 In general, it should be expected that
recording which is either publicly funded,
or which is privately funded in fulfilment
Figure 12: Windsor Castle, Berkshire.
Catastrophic damage to a significant building, such as
in a major fire, should lead to an appropriately detailed
level of building recording (see Table 1). Detailed
recording after the fire at Windsor Castle in 1992
informed the restoration of the building and resulted in
a much greater understanding of its historic fabric.
< < Contents
of planning requirements, will adopt the
most economical path consistent with the
principal needs which the record is intended
to satisfy. Table 1 (page 29) indicates the
kind of record that is likely to be appropriate
in certain generic circumstances. Further
guidance on appropriate levels of record in
different planning-led circumstances can be
found in Understanding Historic Buildings:
Policy and Guidance for Local Planning
Authorities (English Heritage 2008; revised
edition forthcoming).
28
 Circumstance Principal need Level of record Form of record

Strategic Information on the distribution, survival, Typically Level 1 or May make extensive use
heritage planning variation and significance of building 2. Building-specific of external photography,
at national, populations, defined geographically, information may be supplemented by written accounts
regional or local typologically or chronologically. highly selective or of individual buildings and/or
level; studies Understanding of their evolution, variable in level synthetic text. Drawn element
of landscapes, to underpin heritage management may be omitted, simplified,
building types, decisions and as a contribution to limited to maps or restricted to
areas and academic knowledge key examples.
settlements

Management Baseline information on the nature For portfolios, a Level 2 Measured drawings may form an
planning and significance of buildings, providing or 3 record, which may important component, meeting a
for property a foundation for long-term decision- vary with the perceived range of non-historical as well as
portfolios, and making, and identifying where further significance of the historical needs. Where buildings
for individual knowledge is required building; for single form a tight geographical group,
buildings or sites buildings or sites, the or belong to an historic estate,
level may be 3 or 4 more extensive documentary
research may be practicable.

Proposed Understanding of the fabric at risk within Level 2 to 4 depending An account of the building
alterations to the context of the building as a whole, on the significance of (summary for minor alterations,
a significant and an assessment of its significance. the fabric at risk, and more detailed for major
building This allows proposals to be formulated the complexity and intervention), with detailed
and evaluated, and loss minimised. current understanding discussion of affected areas.
Also a record of what is to be lost, of the building as a Measured drawings are more
where significant. whole and of the class likely to be required for
to which it belongs major alterations.

Extensive repairs Detailed information on the nature and Level 3 or 4 The drawn record may be more
or alterations development of the buildings fabric, detailed than the norm, to inform
to a significant in the context of an overview of its step-by-step decision-making.
building with significance, and of the significance
complex fabric of its parts
evidence

Catastrophic Understanding of the nature and Level 3 or 4, depending Attention will focus initially on
damage to development of the buildings fabric, on the significance of areas most vulnerable to loss
a significant in the context of an overview of its the building, the extent (debris, charred timber, water-
building significance, and of the significance of of loss and safety damaged plaster, etc), which may
(for example its various parts considerations be recorded in greater detail than
major fire) normal to assist reconstruction.

Dismantling prior Detailed understanding of the fabric of Level 3 or 4 The drawn and photographic
to re-erection the building, and of the craft processes record is likely to be extensive,
which shaped it and will be carried out both prior
to, and during, dismantling.
The process of reconstruction,
including any departure
from traditional practices
and materials, may also be
documented.

Proposed Assessment of the significance of the Level 2 to 4, depending In special circumstances, and
demolition building and a record of what is to on the significance where resources permit, it may
be lost of the building. The be appropriate to undertake
level will be higher additional recording (including
than for buildings the application of excavation-
of comparable derived finds techniques) during
significance which are dismantling, or to elucidate the
not similarly at risk context or earlier history of the
site through excavation.

Table 1: Appropriate levels of record

< < Contents 29

6 Preserving
the Record
If a record is worth making, it is worth securing its
long-term survival and accessibility. This entails:
considering the physical properties of the
materials of which it is composed
ensuring that sufficient information is
included with the record so that both it
and its constituent parts (which may
become separated) are clearly identifiable
ensuring that copies of a report are
deposited with appropriate local bodies
making appropriate arrangements for
the deposit of the full record in a
permanent archive
taking advantage of online databases,
so that information about the record and
where to consult it is widely available
in appropriate cases, publishing the findings
of the report, or an abbreviated version of it
6.1 Materials and
identifying information
The material accepted by an archive will vary,
depending on their acquisition policy. Archived
reports, drawings and photographs incur a cost
for storage and curation, and should not be
needlessly bulky or difficult to reproduce. It is
recommended that recorders contact the archive
where they would like to deposit their material
< < Contents
early in the process of creating a record, in order
to establish their requirements. The notes below
provide a minimum standard for the archiving of
different types of material, but the final format
should be determined by the policy of the archive
where the material will be deposited.
Drawings
6.1.1 Final versions should be produced on
an archivally permanent medium both
when printed from CAD-based software
programmes, or worked up by hand. For
more guidance on working up drawings
see Drawing for Understanding Buildings
(Historic England forthcoming).
6.1.2 For drawings worked up without the aid
of a computer, polyester-based film has
been used for many years, though since the
widespread adoption of CAD its use is now
declining. It is chemically and physically
very stable. The recommended thickness
for long term dimensional stability is
75 microns or thicker. More expensive
alternatives are acid-free or rag paper. For
inked drawings, water-based permanent
black ink should be used. Etching inks
are unsuitable for use on polyester film.
Any of the technical pens produced by the
major manufacturers (Rotring, Staedtler or
Faber Castell) are adequate in producing
final copies of inked survey drawings.
Dry-transfer lettering and tones are not
archivally permanent. They are therefore
unsuitable for use on final drawings
intended for the archive.
30
6.1.3 CAD drawings are subject to the same
general considerations as all digital data
(see section 6.1.13). The production
of hard copies, using stable materials
and recognised scales, is therefore
recommended in addition to digital
data storage.
6.1.4 Whichever method is used to produce a
drawing, it should include the following
basic information:
the name of the individual(s) responsible
for the drawing, and for the survey,
if different; the date of the survey;
the name of the originating body
or institution
a drawn metric scale rather than, or in
addition to, a stated scale (for example
1:50). A drawn scale will remain accurate
if the drawing is subsequently reduced
on a photocopier or for publication

the name and address of the building,

the civil parish and county, London
Borough or unitary authority, and the
National Grid Reference

1 0 5m
Sample 1:100 scale bar
5 0 20ft

Low Park NGR: NY 70956 46592

Alston Moor, Sur veyed by ATA, LAJ, MW Sept 2010
Alston, Drawn: ATA, March-April 2011
Sheet 1 of 2.
Cumbria

1 0 5m
Sample1:100scalebarforplanorsection
5 0 20ft

0.1 0 0.5m
Sample1:10scalebarformouldingdetail
6 0 12ins

2Waterside NGR:TL5449280145
Ely,Cambridgeshire HistoricEngland
Surveyed:October2014
DrawnbyATAdams

Figure 12
Examples of information boxes used for reference
and archive purposes.

< < Contents 31

 a grid north point on all plans. Plans of
single buildings should normally place
the principal entrance to the bottom.
Plans of churches are conventionally
orientated with ritual east to the right
of the sheet. Adherence to these rules
assists comparison but may sometimes
need to be varied. Plans of building
complexes should place grid north
at the top
all sections should give directional
indications; the location of the section
line, together with any joggles (changes
in plane), should be shown on the plan
(for example A-A1, B-B1, not A-B or C-D).
a drawn frame, to indicate the area of
data for copying and so prevent the loss
of titling, scale and north point
drawings forming a set must be cross-
referenced to each other (for example
drawing 1 of 3)
Photographs
6.1.5 For digital images that are being submitted
to an archive, it is important that the
correct metadata, or file information, is
attached to a file. For those archiving TIFFs
(the preferred archive format) or RAW files
(with associated TIFFs) the information
should be attached to the file using the
properties section of appropriate software
programmes. This is preferable as it ensures
that the image retains this data however
it is copied or disseminated. For those
who are only able to submit JPEGs, files
should be numbered in sequence and given
a site name to allow cross referencing
with the associated prints. For film-based
photography negatives should be placed in
appropriate archival-quality enclosures and
stored separately from the prints.
6.1.6 Record prints should be clearly labelled
and cross-referenced to their negative or
digital file. Black-and-white prints should be
made on fibre-based, resin-coated or silver
halide paper.
< < Contents 32
6.1.7 All prints, and the metadata associated
with processed digital files such as
TIFFs, should include a number for cross
referencing, a site name, an address, a
description of the subject and specify
any copyright restrictions.
Reports
6.1.8 Paper used for reports should be of good
quality. Recycled paper has a very short
lifespan and should be avoided for any
document intended for archiving. Acid-free
paper represents an ideal, but expensive,
alternative to standard papers.
6.1.9 Reports should contain the name and
address of the body or individual(s)
responsible for producing the report. The
date of the survey or investigation should
be included, as well as the date of the
reports compilation. Illustrations used
should be titled with subject and, where
appropriate, orientation. Where possible
a unique identifier should allow cross-
reference to the original negative or digital
file. The inclusion of a contents list, and
the incorporation of a header or footer
on each page of the text, identifying the
building in question, guards against the
accidental dispersal of parts of the report.
The copyright of the report should be clearly
stated, as should that of any images or
other material included in the report by
the permission of the copyright owner,
if different.
6.1.10 Desktop published reports are now
commonly converted to PDF format for
electronic dissemination. While PDF is a
stable format in present circumstances it
is exposed to the same risks as any digital
data format.
Digital data 6.1.14 Where an archive is unable to accept
6.1.11 Records are now produced wholly or
partially in digital form, whether as a
word-processed computer file, a TST
survey of a site, a CAD drawing or a digital
photographic image. Different elements
may be combined in a single format, such
as PDF, for convenient dissemination,
but for archiving purposes the separate
storage of each element is recommended.
Furthermore, whilst in theory it is possible
to store all such material in digital form
in perpetuity, experience has shown that
storage media can be rapidly superseded
by technical developments.
6.1.12 Where a permanent record is being
created therefore, concerns remain over
long-term access to digital data, largely
due to the rapid progress of technology.
Continual data migration of the type
promoted by repositories such as the
Archaeology Data Service, addresses
many of these concerns. However archives
can often be unable to facilitate the
large-scale storage of digital data because
of constraints in budget and capacity. These
factors mean that the sector has yet to fully
adopt wholly digital archiving, and there
is considerable variation in the form and
nature of the type of record that archives
will accept.
6.1.13 Where digital data is to be deposited as
part of the archive record it is imperative
that the intended repository is consulted
before a decision is taken to rely on the
archiving of digital formats. Depending on
the policy and capabilities of the repository,
a hard copy of deposited digital data may
support access and presentation. Whilst the
digital record can provide information not
susceptible of reproduction on paper (for
example three-dimensional views, or the
ability to examine minute areas of a drawing
in close detail) the paper archive at least
ensures the accessibility of most of
the information.
< < Contents 33
some or all of a digital archive, or unable
to guarantee long-term access to digital
files, consideration should be given to
deposition of copies of a digital archive with
repositories such as the Archaeology Data
Service. They allow the deposition of digital
archive material at a fee proportional to the
size of the archive. For more information see
http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk.
6.2 Dissemination and publication
6.2.1 The utility of records depends on their
being available for consultation by anyone
with a legitimate interest in the building
concerned. Copies of reports should be
sent to owners and occupants, not only
as a matter of courtesy, but as a means of
fostering understanding and stewardship of
the historic environment. Many records will
be created in connection with change which
is subject to control through the planning
process. In such cases it will be normal to
circulate the report to the relevant officers
of the LPA, and to architects and others
engaged in the project. Public access to
the report is also crucial. It is therefore
important to ensure, as a minimum, that
copies of any report are sent to the local
Historic Environment Record and to
the appropriate Local Studies Library.
Depending on local circumstances it may
also be useful to send copies to the relevant
Record Office, local archaeological and
historical societies and some universities
(for example those hosting centres for
regional studies).
6.2.2 Studies of buildings of regional or national
significance, particularly where important
new discoveries have been made, may
merit publication in county, regional or
national journals as a way of disseminating
knowledge. In exceptional cases the
intrinsic interest of the building, or the
adoption of an innovative approach to
understanding it, may justify publication in
the form of a standalone publication.
6.2.3 The recording archive, which will include
master copies of the report, together with
photographs, drawings, and research notes,
should be deposited in a repository which
has suitable arrangements for the long-
term preservation of such material. This
may be the relevant Record Office, the local
Museums Service or a Local Studies Library
or Local History Centre. Where records
are part of a regional or national study an
institution with a wider remit, such as the
Historic England Archive, may be more
appropriate. Where records are compiled in
fulfilment of a planning condition the Local
Planning Authority must ensure that the
condition provides for the deposit of the
record in a public archive.

6.3 Signposting

6.3.3 Record creators should where possible

signpost the existence of a record through
OASIS (www.oasis.ac.uk). Although
originating as a means of identifying the
existence of previous archaeological work,
its use has spread to encompass many other
aspects of historic environment research
including building recording. OASIS also
allows a copy of a report to be uploaded
free of charge, to aid wider dissemination
and use of the record, should this be
practicable, although this should not be
treated as a substitute for proper
deposition of the full archive. At the time
of writing it is intended to replace OASIS
with HERALD (Historic Environment
Research Archives Links and Data), during
the course of the next two years. This will
provide a similar service. Updates on the
progress of this project will be available on
the OASIS website.

< < Contents 34

7 Architectural

Drawing Conventions

As part of encouraging and facilitating the dissemination and wider use of building
records the use of standard conventions in architectural drawing are encouraged.
A set of drawing conventions is presented here, to provide a reference for those
producing drawings. Many recorders, particularly those who work in conjunction with
county recording groups or professional recording units, may have their own standard
conventions in use. These may differ slightly from those presented, but should
conform in their principal points. Conventions for line types in digital CAD files
are also presented.

7.1 Objectives 7.2 CAD layering conventions

7.1.1 The endorsement of a set of drawing
conventions is intended to:
promote standard practices within the
heritage sector in the preparation of
architectural drawings for research,
planning and conservation purposes,
for publication and the archive
facilitate the exchange of graphically-
based historical information within the
planning and conservation processes
indicate a minimum level of
information that should be included
in a record drawing
CAD layering conventions are more likely to vary
with different practitioners, but an example of
a set of layering conventions is presented here
to encourage consideration of line conventions,
particularly the clarity of layer names for anyone
engaging with archived survey data. The following
layering protocol is adopted by Historic England
for architectural survey drawings. It represents a
core of fundamental layers or levels, which can
be added to as required. The prefix 0A in the
layer name identifies the source discipline as
architectural survey. For more information on
CAD formats see Metric Survey Specifications
for Cultural Heritage (Historic England 2015).

facilitate the comparison of different

buildings through a uniform system for
recording common features

< < Contents 35

 Layer name Description Line Type Line weight

0A-Annotation Text annotation for final prints continuous 0.13

0A-Grid Grid crosses, and indexing text continuous 0.13

0A-Title Titles, scales, north point, etc. continuous 0.35

0A-Cutline The line of the principal cut, or plan line continuous 0.35

0A-Wall-Ground Ground line at battered walls continuous 0.13

0A-Overhead Details above cutting plane dashed 0.13

0A-Reconstruct Reconstruction or conjectural dashed 0.13

0A-Hidden Info masked by other details dashed 0.13

0A-Construction Construction lines, for deleting prior to desktop publishing continuous 0.13

0A-Traverse Traverse lines & survey stations continuous 0.13

0A-inst_cntl Control positions switched off for presentation continuous 0.13

0A-Digi Other existing or digitised surveys continuous 0.13

Table 2: CAD layer conventions

< < Contents 36

7.3 Drawing conventions
DrawingConventions
General DrawingConventions
DrawingConventions
General
General
General
Detailoncuttingplane

Detailoncuttingplane
Detailoncuttingplane
Detailbeyondorbelowcuttingplane

Detailbeyondorbelowcuttingplane
Detailbeyondorbelowcuttingplane
Formerandconjecturallineofbuilding

Formerandconjecturallineofbuilding
Formerandconjecturallineofbuilding
Detailbehindorabovecuttingplane

Detailbehindorabovecuttingplane
Detailbehindorabovecuttingplane
Centreline

Centreline
Centreline
Scalebar 1 0 5 10m

Scalebar
Scalebar 5
1
1
0
0 10
5
5 20 30ft
10m
10m

5 0 10 20 30ft
5 0 2 10
0 20 30ft
10m
(forsmallscaledrawings)
2 5 0 30ft 10m
2 0 10m
(forsmallscaledrawings)
(forsmallscaledrawings)
5 0 30ft
5 0 30ft

Plans Plans
Walls
Plans
Walls
Walls
Walls
Walls

Walls
Formerwalls
Walls
Formerwalls
Wallwithplinth
Formerwalls
Wallwithplinth
Wallofunknownthickness
Wallwithplinth
Wallofunknownthickness
Wallofunknownthickness
Doorsandwindows,etc
Levels1and2 Levels3and4
Doors andDoorsandwindows,etc
windows, etc
Doorsandwindows,etc
Externaldoorwithwoodframe Levels1and2 Levels3and4
Levels1and2 Levels3and4
Externaldoorwithwoodframe
Externaldoorwithmasonryjambsandstepup
Externaldoorwithwoodframe
Externaldoorwithmasonryjambsandstepup
Internaldoor
Externaldoorwithmasonryjambsandstepup
Internaldoor
Blockeddoors(stippledorhatched),labelbd
Internaldoor
Blockeddoors(stippledorhatched),labelbd
Windowwithsillandwoodframe
Blockeddoors(stippledorhatched),labelbd
Windowwithsillandwoodframe
Windowwithmasonryjambs
Windowwithsillandwoodframe
Windowwithmasonryjambs
Walkinwindow
Windowwithmasonryjambs
Walkinwindow
Walkinwindow(nowallover)
Walkinwindow
Walkinwindow(nowallover)
Walkinwindow(nowallover) Alllevels

Windowwithmullion:(a)wood(b)stoneorbrick a b
Alllevels
Alllevels
Windowwithmullion:(a)wood(b)stoneorbrick
Blockedwindows(stippledorhatched),labelbw
Windowwithmullion:(a)wood(b)stoneorbrick a
a
b
b

Blockedwindows(stippledorhatched),labelbw
Blindwindows
Blockedwindows(stippledorhatched),labelbw
Blindwindows
Architraves,pilasters,etc,tobeshownwherelargeorsignificant
Blindwindows
Architraves,pilasters,etc,tobeshownwherelargeorsignificant
Architraves,pilasters,etc,tobeshownwherelargeorsignificant

< < Contents 37

Beams
Beams
Beams
Beamover
Beamover

Beamwithchamfersandstops
Beamwithchamfersandstops

Beamchamferedbutnostops
Beamchamferedbutnostops

Beamchamferedoneside,stoppedoneend
Beamchamferedoneside,stoppedoneend

Beamandjoists,jettybrackets
Beamandjoists,jettybrackets
Directionofjoists,notdrawnindividually
Directionofjoists,notdrawnindividually

inserted inserted
(a)Insertedorremovedbeam(normalbeamlabelled) inserted inserted
(a)Insertedorremovedbeam(normalbeamlabelled)
(b)Insertedbeamandjoists(alternativemethod) a b
(b)Insertedbeamandjoists(alternativemethod) a b

Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
Fireplaceandchimneypiece(showhearthifpresent)
Fireplaceandchimneypiece(showhearthifpresent)

Blockedfireplace(showhearthifpresent)
Blockedfireplace(showhearthifpresent)

(a)Postsandstuds,cornicebeam a
(a)Postsandstuds,cornicebeam a
(b)Studs,cruckblade
(b)Studs,cruckblade b
measured1metrefromfloor b
measured1metrefromfloor

Postsremoved
Postsremoved

Emptymortices a
Emptymortices a
(a)inwall
(a)inwall b
(b)inbeamsoffit b
(b)inbeamsoffit

Studpositionsindicatedbypegholesonly
Studpositionsindicatedbypegholesonly

Insertedwindow(showglassline)
Insertedwindow(showglassline)

Detailaboveorbelow(label),drawnseparately: a
Detailaboveorbelow(label),drawnseparately: a
(a)detail
(a)detail b
(b)principalplan b
(b)principalplan

Straightjoint(visiblebothsides/onesideonly)
Straightjoint(visiblebothsides/onesideonly)

Raggedjoint(visiblebothsides/onesideonly)
Raggedjoint(visiblebothsides/onesideonly)

Ceilingdetails,cornices,vaultribs,etc
Ceilingdetails,cornices,vaultribs,etc

Stairsandsteps(arrowpointingup,handrailconventionised)
Stairsandsteps(arrowpointingup,handrailconventionised)
showscrollifapplicable
showscrollifapplicable

< < Contents 38

 Stairwell:ground,intermediate,top

Stairwell:ground,intermediate,top
Cupboardabovefloorlevel
Stairwell:ground,intermediate,top

Cupboardatfloorlevel(optionallabel)
Cupboardabovefloorlevel c

Cupboardabovefloorlevel
Cupboardatfloorlevel(optionallabel)
Directionindicatorsforsections A c A1

Cupboardatfloorlevel(optionallabel) c
Industrialandmechanical
Directionindicatorsforsections A A1

IndustrialDirectionindicatorsforsections
and mechanical
Boxandcentrelineofsurvivinglineshaft(drawnfullextent) A A1
Industrialandmechanical
Industrialandmechanical
Bearingbox,directionofdrive
Boxandcentrelineofsurvivinglineshaft(drawnfullextent)

Boxandcentrelineofsurvivinglineshaft(drawnfullextent)
Boxesoverdoorandwindow
Bearingbox,directionofdrive
Trapinfloorwithuprightshaftanddirectionofdrive
Bearingbox,directionofdrive
Boxesoverdoorandwindow
Trapinceilingwithropedrive
Trapinfloorwithuprightshaftanddirectionofdrive
Boxesoverdoorandwindow

Trapinfloorwithuprightshaftanddirectionofdrive
Trapinceilingwithropedrive
Boxtransferringdrivefromflywheel,flywheelbearingbox
Trapinceilingwithropedrive
Boxtransferringdrivefromflywheel,flywheelbearingbox

Boxtransferringdrivefromflywheel,flywheelbearingbox
Flatfireproofceiling,beamsandcastironcolumns

Flatfireproofceiling,beamsandcastironcolumns

Flatfireproofceiling,beamsandcastironcolumns
Archedjackvaulting,beamsandremovedcolumns

Archedjackvaulting,beamsandremovedcolumns
Sections
Archedjackvaulting,beamsandremovedcolumns
Sections
Wall,wallandframingpost
Sections Sections
Wall,wallandframingpost
Beamsandjoists
Wall,wallandframingpost
Removedbeam,removedjoists
Beamsandjoists

Beamsandjoists
Insertedbeam,insertedjoists
Removedbeam,removedjoists

Removedbeam,removedjoists
Timberbeam(whenbeamsofdifferentmaterialsareinthe
Insertedbeam,insertedjoists
section)andmetalIbeams
Insertedbeam,insertedjoists
Timberbeam(whenbeamsofdifferentmaterialsareinthe
section)andmetalIbeams
Timberframing(pegsandemptyholestobeshown)
Timberbeam(whenbeamsofdifferentmaterialsareinthe
section)andmetalIbeams
Timberframing(pegsandemptyholestobeshown)
Removedframing
Timberframing(pegsandemptyholestobeshown)

Removedframing

Removedframing

< < Contents 39

7.4 Sample drawings

no splay on
window jambs

blocked window
19th centur y window
joint beneath window

groove of
former par tition arcade plate in attic over
chimney blocks
19th centur y
window modern wall site of doorway

replacement beam modern fire grate

and brick pier modern stair
groove of
former par tition

overhead details

original window

original window

Drawing 1: Sketch plan of Old Manor House, Bradford,

West Yorkshire.
Where time or access limits the possibility of a full
survey a sketch plan can prove sufficient to illustrate
the most important physical evidence. Old Manor
House, Manningham, Bradford was hand surveyed as a
building under threat in 2008 (see RRS 14-2012).

< < Contents 40

 Firstfloorplan

Studsformedfromreusedrafters
Later addition
Siteof
A window B Siteof
C window D
E
Groovein Scarf Groovein Siteof
plate joint plate stair

Scarf
joint

A1 B1 C1 D1 E1
Siteof Siteof
window window

Originaltimberinsitu Timberdeducedfrom Insertedtimber

pegevidence

CrosssectionBB1

Bracesreplaced Formerline
ofwall

1 0 10m

5 0 30ft

WaterlooHouse, NGR:TL5374480393

3WestFenRoad, Surveyed:April2015
HistoricEngland
Ely,Cambridgeshire DrawnbyATAdams

< < Contents 41

 Hall

Low End Tower

Porch

East Wing

Flue over
South Void in ceiling
Wing Trap door in ceiling

Well

0 1 10m
Ground-floor plan
0 5 30ft
Nappa Hall Sur veyed: Januar y 2014
Askrigg Drawn by ATA, JB
Nor th Yorkshire NGR: SD 9656 9080

Drawing 2 (page 41): Waterloo House, Ely,
Cambridgeshire.
Plans and sections can be carefully chosen to illustrate
the most significant or complicated elements of a
building. At Waterloo House, Ely, the first floor was
hand surveyed in order to illustrate the relationship
between the remaining elements of the roof structure
and the main surviving structure. The position of
the cross-section was chosen to illustrate the only
surviving crown-post truss (RRS 2-2016 forthcoming).
Drawing 3 (above): Nappa Hall, Wensleydale,
North Yorkshire.
Plans of complex multi-phase buildings can be crucial
to visualising how elements fit together. At Nappa Hall
a combination of TST and hand survey was used in
order to cover inaccessible external areas and small,
restricted internal spaces where no digital survey
equipment could operate (see RRS 44-2013).

< < Contents 42

< < Contents
Site of
kitchen

Hall

43
Parlour

Key

Walls erected 1470-1551

10 0 20 40 60 Feet
Surviving elements of Sir Guy Wolstons house, 1470-1504
2 0 10 20 Metres

Additions of 1504-1551
Drawings 4-5: Apethorpe, Northamptonshire
Comprehensive survey coverage of a building can be
required where buildings are at risk, and/or subject
to large-scale conservation programmes. A complete
set of plans, sections and elevations of Apethorpe
was produced. The surveys were used to create block
plans suitable for use in the publication (see page 43;
reduced from the original), with the detailed drawings
like this extract of the southeastern corner (below)
used for conservation purposes (Morrison et al 2016
Apethorpe The Story of an English Country House).

Plan of the Ground Floor

APETHORPE HALL

< < Contents 44

 rubble build

< < Contents

35
33 34 36 37

57 rubble build

Open drain channel Covered drain channel

20 27
18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 32
13 14 15 16 17
60
56
Floor trap
55
Outline of
Open drain channel trap under
55
3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12
Covered drain channel

2 9
1

38
43
44
39

45

Engine house
58
45
42
41 40
59

48
modern 49
47 46

53 50

51
52

10 0 20 40 60
Feet
Metres
2 0 10 20
Drawing 6 (page 45): Tone Works, Somerset.
Plans of industrial buildings or complexes can be used
to show the position of power plant and machinery
indicating how power transmission and process flow
work within such buildings. The Finishing Works at
Tone Works, Somerset was surveyed as a building at
risk while all machinery was still in situ (RRS 72-2007).
Key to drawing: 1-12 Scouring machines; 18-37 Milling
machines; 42, 43 overhead Stretching frames; 46, 53
Raising gigs, 55 DC electric motors; 57 Main belt-drive
pulley; 59,60 Centrifugal extractors.
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Drawing 7 (above): Boston Guildhall, Lincolnshire.
Hand drawn reconstruction drawings can help bring to
life the physical evidence for how a building was used.
At Boston Guildhall detailed survey drawings were
used to inform the creation of this cutaway illustrating
high-status entertaining rooms on the first floor and
gaol cells and kitchens on the ground floor. This was
reproduced in a publication on the history of the town
(Minnis and Carmichael 2015 Boston, Lincolnshire.
Historic North Sea Port and Market Town).
46
 Double Roman tiles laid on 2 x 2 battens

Wheels for
counterbalance
weight Spreader Wire
Guide bar

Rubble wall
Trolley Peg boards Open sides
Drum
Cable to Brick retaining
winch wall
Iron rails laid
on earth floor

Part long section of west end of twine walk

Double Roman tiles laid on 2 x 2 battens Tongue and groove boards Dormer roof glazed Weatherboarding on end wall

Wire Double
doors
Twisting head
machinery

Safety fence
Peg board
Door

Brick retaining wall Store Office

Remains of subsidiary drive

shaft at east end not shown
Size trough (8ft x 1ft) Drum machinery not surveyed
Overhead line shaft from engine room

Part long section of east end of twine walk

5 0 10 20 30
Feet
Metres
1 0 5 10

Drawing 8 (above): Dawes Twine Works, West Coker, Drawing 9 (page 48): Goonvean China Clay Works,
Somerset. Cornwall.
Sections are sometimes valuable for demonstrating Sections can also be more effective at demonstrating
the spatial, mechanical and functional flow through the form of a building. In the Engine House at
a building. The long section demonstrates power Goonvean, the section demonstrates the form
transmission and machinery in the rope walk area and relationship of the various components more
which was used to twist ropes. Surveyed for the effectively than a plan.
South West Mills project (Williams 2013 Textile Mills
of South West England).

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< < Contents 48
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49
Ft 20

M 6

Subject Drawn By Date Scale Survey of London

1 Waterhouse Sq
Woolwich Town Hall, sectional elevation JB 31/08/11 1:100 138-142 Holborn
through main hall. Mens: JB, HC, Del: JB London
EC1N 2ST
Tel: 020 7973 3638

English Heritage

Ft
M 12
Drawing 10 (page 49): Woolwich Town Hall,
Greater London.
The scale and construction detail of the complex
structures can be brought out in 2D cross-sections,
often produced using a combination of survey
techniques. Here the dramatic form of the scale of
the principal auditorium is shown, produced using
a combination of survey methods including Total
Station Thedolite, Photogrammetry and hand survey
(Saint and Guillery 2012 Survey of London Volume 48:
Woolwich.) Reduced from original.
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Organ
40
Drawing 11 (above): St Marys Church, Battersea,
Greater London.
Changes in the form and organisation of internal
spaces can be elucidated through plans showing
internal fittings. Here changes in religious pratice can
be demonstrated through comparative plans showing
its form in 1777 (left) and today (Saint 2013 Survey of
London Volume 49 : Battersea I Public, Commercial
and Cultural).
50
 Ft 2

M 0.6

Woolwich Drawn By Date Scale Survey of London

1 Waterhouse Sq
Royal Arsenal Shot and Shell Foundry gates JB 29/11/09 To fit 138-142 Holborn
Source: EH photogrammetric survey, JB, CF London
EC1N 2ST
Tel: 020 7973 3638

English Heritage

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 Drawing 11 (page 51): Woolwich Shot and Shell
Foundry gates, 1856, Greater London.
Buildings or features on a single plane are particularly
suitable for the application of rectified photography.
The highly intricate wrought-iron gates to the Foundry
provided such a subject, allowing detailed drawings
to be created with minimal time on site (Saint and
Guillery 2012 Survey of London Volume 48: Woolwich).

Drawing 12 (left): Annat Walls, Cumbria.

Line drawn elevations are particularly useful for
showing phasing and blocked or altered features.
At Annat Walls the changes in level within the building
are shown with dashed lines indicating the former
positions of window and doorway openings.
For the North Pennines project (Jessop and Whitfield
2014 Alston Moor, Cumbria. Buildings in a North
Pennine Landscape).

Annat Walls, Alston Moor, Alston, Cumbria

10 metres

30 feet

Sur veyed by A T Adams, N R Fradgley

and M Whitfield. October 2010
NGR: NY 7195 4506
Front elevation

5
1

0
0

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< < Contents 53
 Farm building (former house) Sur veyed: 10 November 2010
west of Cropple How Farmhouse, NGR: SD 1285 9774
Drawn by A T Adams
Muncaster, Cumbria

Exploded view of door components

1 0 2m

1 0 6ft

Drawing 13 (page 53): Ditherington Mill, Shrewsbury,
Shropshire. Exploded view of iron framing.
Clear view of components can be important in
understanding and presenting a building. Here an
exploded view of the iron framing of the Cross Mill at
Ditherington is key to informing a discussion about the
form of this highly-significant late 18th century iron
frame (Giles and Williams 2015 Ditherington Mill and
the Industrial Revolution, fig 5.20).
Drawing 14 (above): Cropple How Farmhouse,
Muncaster, Cumbria.
Detail drawings can be useful to elucidate
constructional details of timber or metal framed
components of buildings. These can be derived from
hand-surveyed measurements as in the case of this
timber door. Surveyed to inform amendment of listing
of the building in 2010.

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< < Contents 55
Drawing 15 (page 55): Ortho-image of elevation
of Harmondsworth Barn, Greater London.
Photogrammetry allows digital images, adjusted to
remove distortion, to be placed against digital survey
date to create 2D ortho-images of elevations. Here
this technique was used to make the distinction
between old and new timber boarding clear. The image
clearly shows the colour difference between the older
boarding on the left hand side and the replacement
boards on the right. These drawings have been used
in specifying and undertaking conservation work on
the building.
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Image 16 (above): Isometric view of Longthorpe
Tower, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
3D photogrammetric outputs can be used to show
the form and detail of internal spaces. Here the model
is derived from a 3D point cloud created using only
photographic coverage, which is processed in such
a way to create a model through overlapping
common features. The result is intended for use in
public interpretation of the site.
56
Image 17: Model of wall construction.
3D data from any source can also be used to present
detail that may not be visible in the buildings current
or final state. In this generic model of a room the
data is used to peel back layers to reveal the form of
construction of the walls under its later furnishings.
This type of product is useful for interpretation
and understanding. The drawing was created for
survey training purposes.

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8 Bibliography
Historic England provides a range of further
guidance which may be used to explore many
of the topics covered in this document. All are
available to download from the Historic England
website. The most useful are likely to be:
English Heritage 2007 (revised edition
forthcoming) Understanding the Archaeology of
Landscapes. A guide to good recording practice
English Heritage 2008 (revised edition
forthcoming) Understanding Historic Buildings:
Policy and Guidance for Local Planning
Authorities
English Heritage 2010 Measured and Drawn
(2nd edition)
English Heritage 2010 (revised edition
forthcoming) Understanding Place. Historic Area
Assessments: Principles and Practice
English Heritage 2011 3D Laser Scanning for
Heritage (2nd edition)
Historic England 2015 Digital Image Capture and
Film Storage
Historic England 2015 Metric Survey
Specifications
for Cultural Heritage (3rd edition)
Historic England forthcoming Drawing for
Understanding Historic Buildings
Historic England forthcoming Photogrammetric
Applications for Cultural Heritage
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Guidance on a wide range of other subjects is also
available. For more information see the guidance
section of the Historic England website. Other
standards and guidance for building recording
and associated specialisms include:
Association of Local Government Archaeological
Officers 1997 Analysis and recording for the
conservation and control of works to historic
buildings
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists 2001
Standard and Guidance for the archaeological
investigation
and recording of standing buildings or structures
(revised edition)
The British Standards Institution 2013
BS7913:2013 Guide to the conservation of historic
buildings (2nd edition)
Clark 2001 Informed Conservation: Understanding
Buildings and their landscapes for conservation
London: English Heritage
Dallas (ed.) 2003 Measured Survey and Building
Recording for Historic Buildings and Structures,
Guide for Practitioners 4. Edinburgh: Historic
Scotland.
Hughes (ed.) 2002 Layers of Understanding:
Setting Standards for Architectural Paint Research.
Proceedings of a seminar held on 28 April 2000,
Donhead St Mary, Dorset: Donhead Publishing.
McCaig (ed) 2008 Practical Building Conservation:
Conservation Basics Swindon: English Heritage.
58
9 Where to Get Advice

9.1 Contact addresses Historic Farm Buildings Group: www.hfbg.org.uk

Ancient Monuments Society, St Anns Vestry Hall, Institute of Historic Building Conservation:
2 Church Entry, London EC4V 5HB: www.ihbc.org.uk
www.ancientmonumentssociety.org.uk

Historic England Archive (formerly the National

Archaeology Data Service: Monuments Record): The Engine House, Fire Fly
http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 2EH:
http://archive.historicengland.org.uk

Association for Industrial Archaeology The Ironbridge

Institute, Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Coalbrookdale, The National Trust, Head Office, Heelis, Kemble Drive,
Telford, TF8 7DX: www.industrial-archaeology.org.uk Swindon, SN2 2NA: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Association of Archaeological Illustrators and OASIS (Online Access to the Index of Archaeological
Surveyors (AAIS): www.aais.org.uk Investigations): https://oasis.ac.uk

Association of Local Government Archaeological Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place,
Officers (ALGAO): www.algao.org.uk London W1B 1AD: www.architecture.com

British Institute of Professional Photography, Fox Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Building
Talbot House, 2 Amwell End, Ware, Herts, SG2 9HN: Conservation Group, 12 Great George Street,
www.bipp.com Parliament Square, London SW1P 3AD: www.rics.org

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, University of Royal Town Planning Institute, 41 Botolph Lane,
Reading, Miller Building, Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AB: London EC3R 8DL: www.rtpi.org.uk
www.archaeologists.net

Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain:

Council for British Archaeology, Beatrice de Cardi www.sahgb.org.uk
House, 66 Bootham, York YO30 7BZ:
archaeologyUK.org
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings,
37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY: www.spab.org.uk
Church Buildings Council, Church House, Great Smith
Street, London SW1P 3NZ: www.churchcare.org.uk Twentieth Century Society, 70 Cowcross Street, London
EC1M 6EJ: www.c20society.org.uk
English Heritage, Customer Services Department,
The Engine House, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire Vernacular Architecture Group: www.vag.org.uk
SN2 2EH: www.english-heritage.org.uk

The Victorian Society, 1 Priory Gardens, Bedford Park,

The Georgian Group, 6 Fitzroy Square, London London W4 1TT: www.victoriansociety.org.uk
W1T 5DX: www.georgiangroup.org.uk

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9.2 Contact Historic England

East Midlands South East

2nd Floor, Windsor House Eastgate Court
Cliftonville 195-205 High Street
Northampton NN1 5BE Guildford GU1 3EH
Tel: 01604 735460 Tel: 01483 252020
Email: eastmidlands@HistoricEngland.org.uk Email: southeast@HistoricEngland.org.uk

East of England South West

Brooklands 29 Queen Square
24 Brooklands Avenue Bristol BS1 4ND
Cambridge CB2 8BU Tel: 0117 975 1308
Tel: 01223 582749 Email: southwest@HistoricEngland.org.uk
Email: eastofengland@HistoricEngland.org.uk

Fort Cumberland Swindon

Fort Cumberland Road The Engine House
Eastney Fire Fly Avenue
Portsmouth PO4 9LD Swindon SN2 2EH
Tel: 023 9285 6704 Tel: 01793 445050
Email: fort.cumberland@HistoricEngland.org.uk Email: swindon@HistoricEngland.org.uk

London West Midlands

1 Waterhouse Square The Axis
138-142 Holborn 10 Holliday Street
London EC1N 2ST Birmingham B1 1TG
Tel: 020 7973 3700 Tel: 0121 625 6870
Email: london@HistoricEngland.org.uk Email: westmidlands@HistoricEngland.org.uk

North East Yorkshire

Bessie Surtees House 37 Tanner Row
41-44 Sandhill York YO1 6WP
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3JF Tel: 01904 601948
Tel: 0191 269 1255 Email: yorkshire@HistoricEngland.org.uk
Email: northeast@HistoricEngland.org.uk

North West
3rd Floor, Canada House
3 Chepstow Street
Manchester M1 5FW
Tel: 0161 242 1416
Email: northwest@HistoricEngland.org.uk

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We are the public body that looks after
Englands historic environment. We champion
historic places, helping people understand,
value and care for them.

Please contact
guidance@HistoricEngland.org.uk
with any questions about this document.

HistoricEngland.org.uk

If you would like this document in a different

format, please contact our customer services
department on:

Tel: 0370 333 0607

Fax: 01793 414926
Textphone: 0800 015 0174
Email: customers@HistoricEngland.org.uk

Please consider the environment before printing

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HEAG099
Publication date: February 2006 English Heritage
Reissue date: May 2016 Historic England
Design: Historic England

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